Dana Veach Some great design ideas here as well as ideas for caring for your flock...thanks!

Alyssa Pelletier Love these chickies, hope to have some of my own someday!

michelleann1 Please be sure you truly want chickens as they often end-up in animal shelters. People sometimes don't understand what they require and then the poor birds become homeless.

kennedytarheel Great ideas...except that my neighbors would banish me!

merriesposito I would be so annoyed if my neighbors started keeping chickens

alexandrak87 Think of adopting first and not having chicks purchased and especially shipped, they can get very injured during shipment and even die.

3pointers Merriesposito, most neighborhoods that allow chickens do not allow roosters. Roosters are the noisy ones. I have 5 chickens in a neighborhood and they must be a certain distance from my nearest neighbor. You probably wouldn't even know I have them unless you saw them.

That orange electrical cord is now gone. We got the coop plans from Country Living.

Amy Renea Thanks for your comments! Most shelters will not take any form of poultry, but as mentioned in the article, you should definitely make sure you are ready and able to care for chickens before buying. As 3pointers mentioned, as long as you are raising hens, noise is not an issue. Hens make far less noise and mess than your average dog.

@alexandrak87 Chicks are tougher than you think and mine have always arrived safely via shipping. It is impossible for most of the country to locally source rare breed chickens, so online ordering with a reputable company is the best way to procure them. Aside from visiting a farm and buying chicks locally, chicks will have been shipped at some point no matter where you buy them.

algasner Please. Do not buy chicks or any other animal, ever. Do the research and adopt. I was frankly floored to see this article's title on this site, which I love. I was sure I was seeing things. Tisk tisk, Houzz. Animals are not a decorating element to be bought and sold like a side table.

Peggi Worth I had 27 chicks shipped to me last year & they all arrived safe and sound. The occasional chick that doesn't make it probably wouldn't have lived anyway. The breeding and purchase of the rare breeds is important because many of them are heritage breeds that would be forever lost otherwise. While I agree that you should definitely make sure you really want them before spending the money on them, I have never seen a chicken in a shelter. There is usually a farmer who will be willing to take them (although I can't promise they won't end up on the dinner table.)

Chickens are surprisingly clean & the hens are quiet. I really don't understand the objection to them in so many neighborhoods. They actually make better neighbors than most dogs or cats. I love my chickens and the eggs they lay are so much tastier and healthier than the ones from the corporate chicken farms where the chickens are all crammed together with very little room to move. If you think that 'free range' on the carton in the store means the chickens live on vast green pastures, sadly, you are mistaken.

Peggi Worth algasner - Have you ever tried to adopt chickens? I don't know where you live but I have seen very few chickens up for adoption around where I live. Usually chickens listed for free on Craigslist are snapped up in a hurry.

Please, if you care about the chickens, don't discourage people from getting some of their own. They provide healthy eggs for your family and if more people keep their own chickens, maybe some of those horrible overcrowded chicken farms will shut down. Once grown, chickens require very little work and raising them is a great experience for children.

salex There are several good points in this ideabook. While I love the idea of adopting chickens, there are humane reasons not to. First, adopted chickens typically come from a home where they may not have been properly care for, and therefore they are more likely to introduce disease to your existing flock (or contaminate your brand new coop). I have known people who did this and then lost all their birds to illness. If you can't vouch for the cleanliness and health of the source chickens, don't bring them into your coop. Second, if your intent is to get laying hens, you are likely getting birds that are past their prime. Whatever your reasons for getting chickens, make sure you get birds that are healthy and suitable for your climate and your purpose (whether for pets, egg layers, or even meat birds).

Amy Renea Please do not misconstrue my love of chickens to be a disrespect of them as an accessory. While they are beautiful and make our lives better (as any pet will do), they are not raised solely for that purpose. They are a food source for my family and adopting an adult chicken (who is probably well past a regular laying age) would not provide the eggs my family needs. As @PeggiWorth mentioned, we raise rare breed chickens in an effort to keep heirloom breeds alive.

dawnwinds58 I know most cats might be intimidated by full grown chickens, but there alway can be an oddball or stray who breaks the rules.My girl is spayed, was never given ANYthing feathered to play with, was conciously trained towards rodents (all toys fuzzed and shade of gray), and is an exceptionaly spoiled and well fed cat. This girl stalks and chases 12 pound, full grown Buff Orpington roosters and 10 pound Buff hens just because they will run from her, for fun. She doesn't catch, kill, or try to eat, but runs them enough to drop egg production by half when she's at it. If she hadn't been here since her eyes weren't even open...well...; I'll just have to get more chickens or eat less eggs.

tnwith4 What is the average start up cost for getting a few chicks and assembling a coup? Any advice for a beginner? How much work is involved? How much time and attention do the chickens need? Just anything important you think I need to know before venturing in to chicken ownership. Thanks

denise1234 Just wanted to add, the neighbor behind me has a coop with 5 hens and a duck. The coop backs up to the fence which is about 20 feet behind our house. I haven't heard a peep from these girls, they have been very good neighbors!

Jennifer Johnson Those who are making negative comments have obviously never raised chickens or had neighbors who do.

durrwood A lot of city ordinances limit the number of chickens you can have (typically 3), and designate hens only - no roosters allowed.

ab19c I keep 10 Red sex-links in my backyard coop constructed by reclaimed materials.They are surprisingly little work, make great pets (even for the kids!) and make my breakfast. :) You can check out www.backyardchcikens.com for everything you need to know about raising backyard chickens.

dianepettis To tnwith4, my children did 4h with poultry. They are extremely fun and calming to watch. It depends on how handy you are for initial setup. Coops can be made out of recycled products. My suggestion to you is read lots. Go to your county extension office and the library. Enjoy!
Diane

lavenacrivea Chickens are sometimes very sweet animals. I would recommend Americana's or buckeyes. They will come to you and even let you pick them up. Chickens do however tie you down and there is always the JOB of cleaning the chicken coop. Remember that before you jump into chickens. I have 32.

Casart Coverings I used to raise chickens. We didn't clip their wings and they flew up in the trees at night. We also had a barn coop but they were never trapped inside. We did eventually have to move them but tt was a perfect place for the hens to lay their eggs. City ordinances where I live now prevent anyone from owning chickens -- probably better for the chickens, as a free range farm, not a city would be a better environment.

I'm longing for an opportunity to use something chicken related in my removable wallcoverings. In the meantime, I'll just dream about it through some of these fun designs you feature and others in this blog post: http://www.casartcoverings.com/casartblog/showrooms-with-style/

Cyan used a Chicken Coop theme at their Highpoint Showroom.
Rooster artwork is by artist Laura Trevey.

Francesca I want chickens. I do. But not in my neighborhood right now. *smiles* I suppose I will just go and see my friend's....

hhein What a strange topic on a home decor site! I love my "This Week on Houzz," but it has gotten so long and, now, perhaps a little irrelevant.

tzinda unfortunately, when you have chickens you end up having rats because of all the chicken food and a lot of people don't know about that. If you let them wander in your yard they make a mess in your beds scratching for food. They also enjoy eating certain plants that you may have in your garden. And, if you like to entertain on an outdoor patio, it's impossible to keep them off the patio unless you fence the patio in otherwise you are always cleaning off their doo doo. Fun to have but a lot of work.

aswedishelf @tnwith4
I too am considering raising chickens and I found this site to be helpful and the sell sexed chicks.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/

Linda McHenry We've raised hens for two years on an 50'X180' urban lot. Properly cared for they do not stink,and are much quieter than our barking dogs. Neighbors have not complained, especially as they occasionally receive fresh organic eggs. There are many considerations when raising hens including urban predators (roaming dogs, raccoons, skunks etc) and the necessity of a minimum of two daily visits to the coop. *(pet sitters for "urban homesteads" are a burgeoning biz). Lots of information is available online.....do your research before making the decision to raise any animal....including hens.

sascha In response to @hhein. It all depends on your view of relevancy. As someone who lives a rural life in Big Sky Country, this article and ones like it are highly relevant and appreciated. My chicken coop and horse stables are just as much a loved and cherished part of my "houzz" as are my living room and breakfast nook. For myself, rooftop gardens in Manhattan and warehouse-turned-abode in Brooklyn are highly irrelevant. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading the articles and looking at the beautiful photos. Houzz readers come in all shapes and styles.

aswedishelf Can anyone tell me is raising hens for the fresh eggs is cost efficient? I like the idea of fresh eggs, but if it will end up costing more per egg than buying them I can't justify it. I won't include start up costs in my plan....
I want to have 3 hens and plan to sell and give away any extra eggs that I have. Still researching too.

hhein @sascha, I appreciate that chicken coops are part of a home and sharing ideas about how to set one up makes sense, but much of the article focuses on caring for chicks. I've never seen a Houzz ideabook on a rooftop garden or warehouse-turned-abode include information on caring for big-city pets.

Linda McHenry aswedishelf - your "homegrown" eggs will be the most expensive you'll ever eat. But worth it to us ..... we like the idea of eating organic eggs produced humanely and our hens provide hours of entertainment and are funny little companions in the garden.

janet4784 Oh how I wish you had done better research.
Male chicks are killed after sexing by gassing, suffocation in large bins, or being shoved into grinders. Some are actually used as shipping material to cushion the females, as if they were so much bubble wrap.
Buying live animals online for shipping and expecting sunshine and roses is absurd. You don't see the boxes of chicks that arrive dead and dying for postal service employees to deal with. They are so inexpensive that the "growers" still make money.
Imagine the terror those chicks go through...the cold and heat, the dark, no food and water, frequent traffic and weather delays...what on earth makes you think this is acceptable?
Instead of supporting the agribusiness industry, why not adopt rescued chickens from a farm sanctuary? There are many chickens needing homes that have been abandoned by farmers, ranchers, and homeowners who didn't do their homework and decided keeping chickens was too hard. It isn't Disneyland.
These are llving beings, entitled to care and respect.
See www.animalplace.org for more info., and http://www.upc-online.org/backyard/120423hatcheries_ship_chicks_as_packing.html

Linda McHenry hhein - don't stress.....click the delete button

katzco1 To folks who say adopt never buy what planet are you from? These are to be hens for laying not pets. After 3-5 yrs. many hens are ready for the stewpot, some sooner. If they quit laying they go for eating. So get a grip. For those upset about the post click delete or absent yourself and get a grip on reality. As a future chicken owner I don't care where the info comes from, just glad to read it.

vikk It is hard to read some of these way off comments! We have raised chickens for almost 40 years and the losses are mainly through not keeping the birds at the right temperature. You have to monitor the temperture at there level not on the wall some place. We raise birds for meat, yes meat, the suff in chicken nuggest and for their eggs. No you will not get your money back from a few hens laying a few eggs but do you get your money back from a dog or cat keep them and enjoy them and think of the eggs as a bonus. Dont forget its a chicken not a person and yes we eat them lol. Oh yes we live in Alberta Canada the land of snow and cold at this time of year and our first birds come in 2 weeks, they will be one day old!!

Linda McHenry We are urban chicken keepers, albeit not the "heartless hippie homesteader" variety ...... did my hippie thing 40 years ago, thank you very much. We purchased our chicks at the local farm supply store and purchase our organic feed from our local mercantile specializing in sustainable living alternatives. They have a heated coop, a covered and secured run as well as a larger chicken "yard". They "free range" when we are out in the garden.......my gardens are rarely bother by insects. On cold mornings like we have had the last several weeks I prepare them a breakfast of hot oatmeal and yogurt with a dusting of mealy worm. Also they get a daily dish of chopped greens, a handful of scratch and the occasional scrambled egg for protein. They are terrific little gals, excellent layers and when they get beyond their laying days they will be retired and enjoy "old hen" status till their natural death. Much like me ;)

alexandrak87 Please do not bash supporters of adoption (especially when you can adopt fancy breeds...)and of bringing awareness to the public...especially in this new 'backyard chicken' craze, the last we need is it advertised and supported MORE. I am simply recommending adopting a lovely chicken that already is born and needs a home for someone like me who likes them as pets and not egg factories...this article isn't entitled 'fresh chickens for sustenance' after all ;)

alexandrak87 Also, for those of you who want chickens as actual pets, look up chicken run and farm sanctuary (petfinder is a great source too)...both places are amazing, and they occasionally get chickens that lay eggs like crazy if that's your thang :)

katzco1 If you can afford to feed non-laying hens that's wonderful. we can't and when they get to laying very few eggs per week they will be replaced with new chicks and will become food for us. it's the way of life. I want healthy non-chemical chickens for eggs and eating. that's why I won't adopt or allow them to live out their natural lives after laying. that could mean you end with dozens of chickens to feed for just a few eggs. Many of us can't afford to feed them oatmeal, yogurt, and scrambled eggs. That's what I as a human eat for breakfast. I don't expect eggs to be cheaper now but healthwise they can be later in life as in not being sick with diseases from chemicals.

Beth Have had chickens for decades thanks to the late actor Jimmy Stewart and his wife, who also had chickens.

A few things I tell newbies is know your local laws, because some areas allow a back yard folk and some do not. And we use construction cloth which is a fine mesh wire, under the coop and up the walls three feet because this keeps critters from chewing thru the wood into the coop.

We also bury construction cloth two feet into the ground around the fenced area for the same reason, and the add regular wire mesh fencing. If you live in an area with hawks, owls etc you may need a covered mesh ceiling over the entire open area. Also helps if you have raccoon's since they will climb into fenced areas and into the coop.

We have a small solar panel that runs a light inside the coop which we set on a timer so come late fall into early sprint it comes on from 5-8am and 5-8 pm. Light is essential for us here in the Sierras for egg production come winter. And because we get cold weather I make an effort to make hot oatmeal for my girls come morning.

Also consider heirloom breeds, since we need to keep these breeds going. We love our Jersey Giants and French Maron who lay eggs that have shells the colour of dark chocolate. Then we LOVE our golden colour Buff Orpington hens because they are so mellow and make great mothers. Rhode Island Reds are also favorites of ours. And because we love the light blue and green colours of easter eggs we recommend Araucanas. We no longer have white Leghorns because they are to flighty.

Love knowing what our hens eat, because we love organic eggs.

vikk Sorry Linda H that you think anyone that has raised chicken for a long time is a Hippie , We are farmers and raise chicken finished on grass supplemented with Wheat for a good protien sourse. Our chickens go to people that want good old fashion tasting chicken. Our customers come from places over 150 miles away. The point I was trying to make was please [pay attention to the temperature for your day olds it is so very important to start them out right no matter how many you have. Our rules for organic are that we cannot have anyone spraying within 2 miles, we are not that big a farmer so we cannot use organic, does your neighbor spray his lawn, watch for drift if that is the case. Have a great time with the birds they are a joy for us.

aswedishelf @ Beth - does the hardware cloth keep the rats and snakes away? They can be a real problem where I live.

Beth Our girls (hens) are like family and they die of old age. While they may slow down on eggs laid, they still are awesome at keeping the bugs under control which is healthier and cheaper than hiring some pest control company. And because they are allowed in the flower garden they keep weeds under control as well.

We also feed them all the kitchen scraps, and they love to stir up the compost bins for goodies so we spend $10 for a bag of local organic layer pellets and $10 for a fifty lbs bag of organic non GMO cracked corn as a treat and these last three months. When you consider a dozen organic free range eggs cost $4-6 dollars in our are of California, our twelve hens are a bargain as far as cost of eggs.

We have a few friends who have multi purpose hens (eggs/meat) and they do humane slaughter and have great tasting chicken meat, although we are vegetarian/vegan leaning ourselves.

We also support adopting chickens that have been rescued from bad conditions. Many farm sanctuary groups need families who will adopt chickens and allow them to live out their lives in peace and kindness.

If you keep the coop clean, fresh straw in the nesting boxes and on the floor, (which we put in the compost pile once a month) you should have no fly or other pest issues. Same with the chicken area outside the coop. San Francisco, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, and numerous other areas of California that are not rural, allow for hens in the backyard and usually no more than twelve. Roosters are to loud unless you have a Bantam rooster which are not as loud. Give me a Bantam rooster over barking dogs any day.

Wanted to note that when I go outside in the morning Goldie my Buff Orpington comes running to me, sits down, and waits for me to pick her up. I pick her up and hold her as I walked around the yard to check on the garden, fill the bird baths, get the mail and then sit down to read. She is like a good friend. The other hens are also nice. The small Bantam mix looks like a chocolate puff ball.

And when hens run they look like little old ladies running to the bus stop with shopping bags in both hands.

Linda McHenry vikk - the "heartless hippie homesteader" phrase was not mine, but one offered up in a previous post that was since deleted.
I love my hens, for their eggs and their companionship, their bug control and the fact that they eat every single weed out of our vegetable beds and scratch in their own composted poo to produce magnificently fat tomatoes, peppers and all manner of veggies. We have a Buff Orp, a RIR, a Barred Rock, an Ameraucana, and a Black sex-link.

Beth @aswedishelf construction cloth has 1/4-1/2 inch square openings and we choose the 1/4 inch size and yes, this keeps snakes and mice, rats etc out of the hen yard and prevents rodents or all kinds from chewing through to the wood under the coop or up the sides. I also recommend having a coop up off the ground on cement pillars with fine mesh construction cloth all around the coops bottom area.

Peggi Worth I just ordered some Jersey Giants, scheduled to arrive in April. I have some Cuckoo Marans & they lay some nice BIG brown eggs. I have 5 different breeds now & there are 4 breeds in my new order. I like getting the heirloom breeds. If it weren't for the rare breed hatcheries, small farmers, and backyard chicken owners, many of those breeds would have already disappeared.

I love taking care of my chickens and I don't consider it hard at all. They provide fresh healthy eggs for me and my friends and neighbors. I like knowing that the more people I supply with eggs, the fewer eggs will be bought from the large chicken farms where the chickens live in crowded, unhealthy, inhumane conditions. Put it down if you want to but I think the backyard chicken 'craze' (as someone called it) is great and should be supported MORE. Better living conditions for chickens, healthy eggs for us. How can that not be a good 'thang'?

jmw999 DO NOT SHIP LIVE ANIMALS! Period. A close friend works at an agricultural supply store and every winter/spring a few of the boxes she opens contain dead chicks. Shipping services are set up to deal with parcels, not living things.

dawnwinds58 I was somewhat astounded by some of the comments I have seen on this. We always have chickens and I was raised around chickens and other farmstead poultry. It was just...well...something we always had. We eat eggs and like fried chicken, AND prefer it without antibiotics, or growth hormones, OR mistreatment of the birds as they are raised. They have the run of the place, are well fed and cared for, and help us keep the bug population down. We do not send anything we raise to be killed by anyone else. If we're going to eat meat, we're going to make sure they have a comfortable life, and are killed in the most humane way possible. I don't expect everyone to eat meat, but KFC doesn't pick that stuff off trees you know. Nor does McD's have burger seeds. That "all beef patty" once stood in a field somewhere expecting to be treated kindly and with respect. Too bad they weren't on my place where they could be assured kind and gentle treatment.

SP Gardens - Susanna Pagan Landscape Design I really appreciated your article. I am a landscape designer and find many of my clients ask about raising chickens and incorporating coops into their landscapes. I, myself plan on eventually moving to a more rural area of San Diego, where I will most definitely be raising chickens and enjoying fresh farm eggs! Houzz, is a great site for interior and landscape design and I found your article appropriate to the site content.

Fresh Eggs Daily I am VERY astounded by many of the uneducated comments on this post. I raise chickens, come from a chicken keeping background and whether you buy or adopt or hatch your own, it is one of the MOST wonderful experiences any family could ever have. The photos that Amy chose are beautiful and show chicken keeping at its best. Our chickens are also well-cared for and I enjoy spoiling them a bit.

Anyone who thinks chickens smell, or are dirty or noisy, attract rats or any of the other misconceptions I just read, please visit my blog: www.fresh-eggs-daily.com. I show it like it is - and that is a beautiful, fulfilling, satisfying way to feed our family and provide entertainment and stress relief. I have hatched my own chicks, bought locally AND ordered online and I applaud ANYONE who does the same!

Way to go Amy! I love that Houzz printed this article.

Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
www.fresh-eggs-daily.com
www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily

jennihuffman I just love this! It includes my passion for design and decorating and now chickens too! I live in the country so do not have city regulations to contend with and thank goodness. My biggest challenge is my husband who is very plain and simple in all things. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the chandelier in the chicken coop. I can't convince my husband to put one in our own bedroom so one for the coop will be a dream. By the way I am also interested in goats, hint hint.